Lesson+Plans

=Lesson Plan One= =** Fossils: A Window Into the Past **=


 * 6th-8th Grade Science **

From this lesson, students will be able to:
 * Objectives **
 * Define what a fossil is
 * Identify different types of fossils and state how each are formed
 * Differentiate between different types of fossils by sorting them into their correct categories.

[|CastFossil2.jpg] [|MoldCastFossil.jpg] [|MoldFossil2.jpg] [|MoldFossil3.jpg] [|PetrifiedRemains.jpg] [|PetrifiedRemains2.jpg] [|PreservedRemains.jpg] [|PreservedRemains2.jpg] [|PreservedRemains3.jpg] [|TraceFossil2.jpg] [|TraceFossil3.jpg] [|TraceFossils.jpg] Extension Activity Materials-
 * Materials/Equipment Needed **
 * 1 set of fossil pictures per group: examples of mold, cast, preserved remains, petrified remains, and trace fossils
 * Access to Discovery Streaming videos
 * Access to computers or laptops, at least 1 per 2 students
 * Computer with Internet connection
 * LCD projector
 * Discovery Streaming video- [|Earth Science: Fossils]
 * Earth Science: Fossils quiz
 * [|Who am I? Fossil Types] interactive game from Project JASON
 * Play Doh or clay
 * Plaster of Paris
 * Objects to imprint in the clay


 * Activities **
 * 1) Students will view the Discovery Streaming video, Earth Science: Fossils. This video defines the different types of fossils, and explains and illustrates how each is created. This video highlights how fossils are found and prepared for study, fossils preserved in amber, a wholly mammoth that was preserved in ice, fossils in ash beds, and fossils in Mammoth Cave National Park.
 * 2) After the video, students will use the knowledge that they’ve gained to practice sorting fossils into their correct categories. Each pair of lab partners will receive a set of fossil pictures (found in materials), will create fossil categories, and sort the pictures into the appropriate groups. On a separate piece of paper, they should write a rationale for why they sorted each picture the way that they did. Categories should include: mold, cast, petrified remains, preserved remains, and trace remains.
 * 3) To end the lesson, students will play Who Am I? Fossil Types interactive activity from Project JASON. During this game, students view pictures of fossils and answer questions about them. They will receive immediate feedback about their choices. This game is a good summarizing activity that will help students to review what they learned during the lesson.

During the sorting session, I will be walking around the classroom to answer questions and make observations of student progress. After the lesson, students will complete the Earth Science: Fossils quiz to determine the knowledge they have gained from the lesson. This will be graded as a quiz grade.
 * Evaluation **

To extend this lesson, students can simulate the creation of mold and cast fossils using clay and plaster of paris. For an explanation of the activity, please visit [|Making Fossils on TeachNet-Lab.org]
 * E **** xtensions **

= = = = = = = = = = = = = ** Lesson Plan 2 ** = = ** Mighty Minerals ** =


 * 6th-8th Grade Science **

From this lesson, students will be able to:
 * Objectives **
 * Define minerals and their properties
 * Describe the identifying characteristics of minerals
 * Analyze characteristics of unknown minerals to determine their identity.

LCD projector or Smartboard Internet acess Access to computers or laptops, at least 1 per 2 students Access to YouTube videos Set of numbered minerals Streak plate Glass plate Steel nail Penny HCl acid Magnet [|MasterMines interactive game] YouTube video: __ Mineral Characteristics __ [|GeoMan’s Mineral Identification Charts] [|Mighty Minerals Documents from Illinois State Musieum Geology Online-]
 * Materials/Equipment Needed **
 * Mineral ID Guide
 * Mineral ID Data Chart
 * What is a Mineral? worksheet
 * Mighty Minerals Project worksheet


 * Activities **
 * 1) Working in lab groups of 4, each group will receive a set of 5 minerals. They should list the different characteristics that they notice.
 * 2) Introduce minerals by discussing their 5 characteristics. Students should complete the top portion of the What is a Mineral? worksheet.
 * 3) Students will complete the bottom portion of the What is a Mineral? worksheet with their lab partner. At the bottom of the page, they should list their rationales for their choices.
 * 4) Watch the YouTube video __ Mineral Characteristics __. This video outlines all identifying characteristics of minerals, and models how to perform each type of test in order to identify unknown minerals. During the video, students should take notes. Specifically, they should list and define identifying properties of minerals, and state which mineral identification tests are most and least reliable.
 * 5) I will model how to use the Mineral ID Guide and Data Chart, GeoMan’s Mineral Identification Chart, and all lab materials listed above to identify an unknown mineral.
 * 6) Students will perform mineral identification tests to test a set of unknown minerals. They should record all data on their Mineral Data worksheet.
 * 7)  At the end of the lab, students will play the game [|MasterMines] from Project JASON, which will reinforce the information and skills that they just learned. In this digital game, students travel around the Americas to different mines, collect minerals, and take them back to the lab to perform identification tests on them.

During the lab, I will walk around the classroom to monitor student progress and answer any questions. After the lab has been completed, their charts will be assessed for accuracy. At the end of the unit, students will move to different stations around the classroom to use the same skills that they used in this lab to test unknown minerals and identify them.
 * Evaluation **

To apply what they’ve learned, students can select a mineral and complete the Mighty Mineral project. During this project, students will:
 * Extensions **
 * Research a mineral of their choice to determine other properties and important uses
 * Create an advertisement with a cartoon character or superhero and slogan that references one or more important uses for the mineral.